10 Western Fishermen

by Allison Reimer

Gary Gellhaus, part of a large, enthusiastic group of fishermen from Alberta, was confident that even if he was unable to return, he would never forget his fishing trip to North Knife Lake Lodge. His anticipation of huge northern pike and lake trout had been fulfilled beyond expectations.

North Knife Lake Lodge

North Knife Lake Lodge - Near where the big fish live!

A master trout was common on this day – everyone had reeled in a big guy. As they headed in for lunch and with the shore in sight, Glen (the guide) suddenly slowed the boat. His fish finder was indicating 12 feet of water and a massive fish!

Jason Edey snatched up his rod and casted towards the general area. Almost immediately he got a snag and he tugged impatiently to free it as Glen circled the boat back to free his line. When they got near his line, Jason suddenly realized there were bubbles coming from his snagged lure.

“Oh! I got a fish!”

The battle ensued as he fought to reel the Manitoba monster to the side of the boat. When the fish was finally close enough, Glen deftly netted it and hoisted it up for a quick measure to ensure its Master Angler length of 39 inches. A swift picture before release and the beast went back to his watery bed.

Gary could honestly say he’d never been to a place quite like this.

“Webber’s beats all the British Columbia salmon fishing resorts hands down!” he exclaimed.

His buddies nodded in agreement as they relaxed in the lounge. A mixture of family and friends made a great combination for an exciting and relaxing fishing holiday.

Gary had the catch of the trip.

“There’s tons of action and a great atmosphere,” he continued. “I was so excited to reel in that 42-inch lake trout on our last loop through Trophy Bay. I knew that blue and red wiggler I bought in the Webber’s tackle shop would catch me something good!”

Gary’s friend Sheldon Schiffner agreed that it was an impressive catch. Only minutes afterwards in the same boat, on the same bay, he’d caught his own trophy lake trout of 38 inches.

“Our guides were fantastic,” said Sheldon. “The staff here are the most personable I’ve experienced. We know we aren’t just another paycheck to them. They sincerely want to make our stay memorable.”

“Not to mention the best fishing ever,” Gary added as he glanced around the cozy furnishings.

“And the food!” Jason pitched in as he sipped his drink and dealt another round. “That sweet and sour trout was fantastic. 5-Star cuisine.”

There was a rumble of agreement around the poker table.

“I’m definitely coming back,” said Barry McGillivray. “My kids would have a blast!”

After a few games of poker and access to an all-night bar they kicked it back in the hot tub to relax after a long and enjoyable day of fishing. An incredible fishing adventure was had by all over the week, and they all felt…

It was over too quickly.

Master Angler Trout at North Knife Lake Lodge

Mike Vukelic with trophy Lake Trout at Webber's Lodges
Gene and the Vukelic Family have been coming to North Knife Lake for trophy fishing for many years and 2011 was no different.Here is an account written by Mike as he shares his trophy story:

It was a great day of fishing, fairly good weather but raining on and off.

We were trolling Trophy Bay and Lenny our guide was joking about being bored. Lenny loves to troll and is a funny guy and of course a great guide. I hope he’ll be here when I come back; and I will come back.

So he hands me a lure, a silver spoon and four ounce sinker, and tells me to go deeper. All we’d brought so far, between two boats, were three small Lake Trout so I wasn’t expecting much. We were going to meet up with the other boat to exchange lures, when I got a snag trolling deep, as Lenny instructed.

So we backed it up to free my line and all  the guys were laughing loudly about my ability to snag a weed-less hook. It was then that Lenny and I realized that the line kept sinking instead of reeling in as we approached.

Lenny decided my snag was now a very large fish. I must have fought that fish for a good 10 or more minutes before I got him near the boat. The funny thing is that Lake Trout kept growing. The first measurement resulted in a 34 inch Trout, just shy of a trophy. But the second time we measured it was 35 and a half inches putting my catch just over a Master Angler, and the third time resulted in a whooping 36 and a quarter inch long Master Angler Lake Trout. It was the last fish, last day, and it was a storybook ending. Awesome!

It was an awesome week of fun and laughter for both guests and staff.

Reporting from North Knife Lake Lodge – Big Fish, Bigger Memories.

allison_1.jpg

by Allison Reimer

Hey everyone! Here at Webber’s Lodges it’s been decided to show you the face behind some of the stories on our blog. You know, I’m the one who adds the quirky little comments, interviews the guests and always has a lot to say.

I am the third daughter of Jeanne, one of Doug Webber’s daughters and my name is Allison Reimer.  I’m 16 years old and I’ve never missed a year at the lodges. Actually, I’d never want to miss an opportunity to be in this paradise.
I was raised in Churchill, Manitoba until I was 10 years old and enjoyed every minute of the opportunity to be outdoors in the lovely unpolluted Arctic air and see the magnificent white beasts that roam the North. Every summer I work at North Knife Lake Lodge (fishing) and Seal River Heritage Lodge, where my parents run Churchill Wild polar bear ecotours.
I have a dream job that allows me to go outdoors and meet amazing people from all over the world. Plus I get to go fishing for northern pike and trout then go swimming with Beluga Whales.
My childhood has pretty much all-over rocked. I love writing and I love talking to people and hearing stories about their trips and just getting to know them. This made me the perfect candidate when my mom wanted someone to write for the blog and for our Facebook page (go “Like” us).
I talk to guests and ask them about their daily adventures at our lodges. I love to know what’s going on so I can share the excitement. It helps me appreciate where I am and reminds me that things I see as a daily occurrence are often the most exciting first-time experiences for our guests.
It keeps it very real and alive for me. I just love to be out here in the wilderness, away from the stresses of teen angst and all that high school stuff. It’s a great opportunity to build relationships with family and make new friends while working!
Hope you enjoy the stories!
Allison